Cypress FCR4 Family of 32-bit ARM® Cortex®-R4 Microcontrollers

Cypress’s FCR4 Cluster family of devices has been especially designed to offer an innovative, scalable solution for hybrid clusters, which combine traditional meters and graphical displays. With their embedded Flash, the FCR4 MCUs and SoCs can serve as single-chip solutions or operate as companion chips for other devices to build high performance systems for virtual / free programmable clusters.

Performance

The ARM® Cortex®-R4 core operates at 1.6DMIPS/MHz and features 8KB I-cache and 8KB D-cache. The units include up to 2MB embedded Flash and 64KB E2Flash, with Error Correction Code (ECC). The FCR4 family offers a performance of 205 DMIPS.

2D Graphics Capability

One of the key features of the FCR4 family, the “Iris” graphics display controller is a modular system of building blocks that can be combined to develop the optimal scalable solution for customer requirements. The TCON display controller can support four display layers of overlay and video modes up to 40MHz pixel clock. “Iris,” which includes up to 1MB embedded VRAM, also features an APIX® 1.0 transmitter, a signature unit for safety, a command sequencer and pixel engine.

Cluster and Connectivity Features

The devices feature up to six stepper motor controllers (SMCs) and Zero Point Detection (ZPD) a real-time clock / auto calibration, sound generator, and an I2S interface. The MCUs include support for Controller Area Network (CAN), Local Interconnect Network (LIN), SPI, I2C, and HS-SPI (memory mapped access).

Safety and Security

The low-power devices, which are developed to fulfill the highest automotive quality standards, include today’s required safety and security features. These features include Secure Hardware Extension (SHE), MPU, PPU, TPU, CRC, a window watchdog and ECC for all on-chip memories. Security is enhanced with Flash, debugging and test security features.

Development and Software

Cypress and its partners offer the required support for these MCUs. The series supports the latest AUTOSAR specifications including EEPROM emulation and an APIX remote handler driver. Other tools include a developer suite, and various evaluation boards.

FCR4-Cluster Family

The FCR4-Cluster family is dedicated to automotive instrument cluster applications. The first devices in this family is “Atlas” (MB9DF126) followed by “Atlas-L” (MB9DF125) and “Titan” (MB9EF226). “Atlas,” a single-chip solution for automotive-instrument clusters, can support up to six gauges and features an APIX 1.0 interface. “Atlas-L” features the Secure Hardware Extension (SHE) capability, and can be used as a stand-alone device driving up to six stepper motor controllers (SMCs) or in combination with other devices to support more complex clusters. “Titan” includes Cypress’s 2D-graphics engine “Iris,” SHE and MediaLB (for MOST.) The latest device in the family, “Titan” is an ideal solution for automotive instruments clusters with high safety and security requirements.